Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan says commission, with its few staff and small budget, unable to ensure integrity in 21 agencies

KUALA LUMPUR – The country has adequate laws to tackle graft, but Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan admits that enforcement is lacking.

In an exclusive interview with Sinar Harian, he said the commission is unable to ensure integrity is practised in 21 enforcement agencies, as it has only 78 staff members and an annual budget of RM8 million.

“So, that is not possible. We have to work with other agencies, especially those under our purview,” he was quoted as saying.

“For example, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police and Immigration Department. They are not our enemies, and they are not ours. They are our partners.

“The police force itself has 130,000 staff. With EAIC’s 78 staff, how can we oversee 130,000 people? So, we hope and pray to God that they watch over themselves.”

He said he does not deny there are some “nakal” officers, but they are small in number.

“With a total of 1.6 million civil servants, you think 800,000 are bad? I feel we have more good ones, and they hate the ‘nakal’ ones.

“Perhaps, this is our fault. Maybe the seniors don’t really like to punish those who have violated their integrity. We don’t mete out punishment because we like to be liked. Most of us who are in high positions really like to be liked.”

He said he prefers that punishment come from within the agency itself.

“For example, if a police officer has committed an offence, the punishment should not come from MACC or in court, but from police themselves, their disciplinary unit.”

Sidek said he is satisfied with existing laws, pointing to the EAIC Act 2009.

“I’m not satisfied when it is not enforced.”

Bernama today reported that police’s Integrity and Compliance Standards Department (JIPS) has received many complaints from the public on officers not properly discharging their responsibilities.

Bukit Aman JIPS director Datuk Zamri Yahya said cases where it is alleged that action has not been taken include those against drug-trafficking and gambling syndicates.

He added that the issue of misconduct and integrity among police continues to be raised by the public, despite the various disciplinary actions taken against offenders since 1986. – The Vibes, December 27, 2020